Magdalen College Student Support

Student life is great fun but can be hard and challenging. Magdalen offers several different kinds of help to anyone experiencing personal difficulties, but whoever you choose to talk to will treat what you have to say professionally, and do their best to help. The College takes the welfare and wellbeing of its students very seriously, and wishes to ensure that all those studying here are well supported and cared for.

A team of tutors, staff and students work together to provide welfare support, and you may contact any of the individuals below with any concerns that you may have. You may be struggling with a specific, well-defined problem, or you may not have any idea what the problem is, but just have a sense that something isn’t right – we are here to support you and the earlier you speak to someone the more support we can offer. Do get in touch.

Posters are on display around the College to remind you of the welfare contacts available to you.

For emergencies, always contact the Porters (01865 276000) who provide 24-hour security oversight of the whole college and who will be able to put you in touch with someone to deal with confidential welfare support issues at any time.

Katie is available each weekday in her office on the ground floor of the Grammar Hall and supports the Deans and the Welfare team with their work. If you are unsure who to approach, Katie should be your first port of call. She can help you with any confidential matter. You can also speak to Katie about:

General welfare concerns

Student Support Fund applications

Hardship applications, through the Junior Members Fund, which can provide rapid emergency help

The Deans are responsible for both welfare and discipline. They hold a regular drop-in surgery, Dean’s Hour, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.30am-9.30am in Weeks 1-8 in their office on the ground floor of the Grammar Hall, but are available at other times. Email deans@magd.ox.ac.uk. You can discuss with them any confidential matter that is troubling you – so do not hesitate to get in touch at any time. For example, they can authorise financial help in cases of unexpected need. They also interview all students who have applied for Student Support Funding.

Katie and Helen are postgraduate students but they are resident in college and are especially important in providing welfare support out of normal working hours, along with the porters. They are friendly faces around the college so do get to know them. They are always happy to have a chat.

Victoria offers support, advice and guidance to all students on a broad range of topics and she can help signpost students to other support services. Victoria offers one-to-one appointments at different times each week and also arranges workshops to support students with their personal academic development. Contact Victoria to discuss:

Silvia is a professionally qualified counsellor and is part of the University Counselling Service. She is usually available on Thursday mornings specifically for Magdalen students. Contact Silvia to discuss:

One-to-One Counselling

The services and workshops that the University Counselling Serve provide

Jonathan is available as appropriate to all students irrespective of their beliefs. He can be called on for advice or help without appointment in his room in Cloisters IV:2.

Medical Support

College Doctors– Catherine BensonandRichard Baskerville.

The College Doctors are based at 27 Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2NR. If you need to make an appointment, please contact 01865 311500.

College Nurse– Sue Salmon.

Sue is in St Swithuns VI from 9am-10am during Weeks 0-9. Sue can consult on minor sickness and ailments.

In addition, several students each year are trained in Peer Support and the JCR and MCR have their own welfare teams. The team of tutors and staff with welfare responsibility work closely and meet regularly with their colleagues from the JCR and MCR. For more details see the JCR and MCR web pages.

JCR and MCR Support Services

The JCR and MCR elect Welfare Officers who can also provide support to fellow students and run campaigns to support student wellbeing. Several students are trained Peer Mentors.

Further information:

The Information and Regulations Handbook which is issued to all members of college at the beginning of the academic year contains further details and can also be found on the internal pages of this website.

Any harassment issues are dealt with by the College’s two Harassment Officers:

Dr Jennifer Castle (New Buildings II:4; telephone 276067)

Dr Robert Douglas-Fairhurst (St Swithuns VII:5; 276058)

On academic matters students usually consult their own Tutors, another Tutor who teaches their subject, or the Senior Tutor.